Do I have to report a car accident to my insurance company or the police?

State laws differ on when and how you have to report a car accident. Many people might ask, "How long do you have to report a car accident?" Statutes of limitation vary by state. Generally, you don't have to report a car accident if there are no injures and only minor damage. Keep in mind that even if you do not report your auto accident to your insurance company, they may eventually find out if a police report is filed.

UPDATED: Sep 22, 2024Fact Checked

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Laura Gunn

Insurance and Finance Expert

Laura Gunn is a former teacher who uses her passion for writing and learning to help others make the best decisions regarding finance and insurance. After stepping away from the classroom, Laura used her skills to write across many different industries including insurance, finance, real estate, home improvement, and healthcare.  Her experience in various industries has helped develop both her ...

Insurance and Finance Expert

Zach Fagiano

Insurance & Finance Analyst

Zach Fagiano has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years, specializing in property and casualty and risk management consulting. He started out specializing in small businesses and moved up to large commercial real estate risks. During that time, he acquired property & casualty, life & health, and surplus lines brokers licenses. He’s now the Senior Vice President overseeing globa...

Insurance & Finance Analyst

UPDATED: Sep 22, 2024

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UPDATED: Sep 22, 2024

Advertiser Disclosure

It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.

Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.

Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.

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